6-3 Biodiversity

Three types of biodiversity

Ecosystem, species and Genetic.

Introduced Species

Invasive species compete for resources and have no natural predators

Pollution

Many pollutants are harmful to the natural wildlife of an area. Pollutants can result in acid rain and dissolving marine ecosystems.

Ecological hot spot

a place where significant numbers of species and habitats are in immediate danger of extinction.

Biodiversity's benefits

contributions to medicine and agriculture, and the provision of ecosystem goods and services.

Ecosystem diversity

the variety of habits, communities, and ecological processes in the biosphere.

Biodiversity and medicine

wild species are the original source for many medicines. Plant compounds are assembled according to instructions coded in genes. So the genetic information carried by diverse species is like a "natural library" from which we have a great deal to learn.

Biodiversity and agriculture

Genetic diversity is also important in agriculture. Most plants have wild relatives, and may carry genes we can use-through plant breeding or genetic engineering- to transfer disease or pest resistance, or other useful traits, to crop plants.

How are humans affecting biodiversity?

Humans reduce biodiversity by altering habitats, hunting, introducing invasive species, releasing pollution into food webs, and contributing to climate change.

Protecting individual species

In the past, most conservation efforts focused on individual species. and some of this work continues today. the AZA oversees SSPs designed to protect threatened and endangered species.

Considering local interests

Protecting biodiversity often demands that individuals change their habits or the way they earn their living. In these cases it is helpful to offer some reward or incentive to people or communities involved. The U.S Gov. created carbon credits, which rewards a lower carbon footprint.

Biodiversity and ecosystem and ecosystem services

The number and variety of species in an ecosystem can influence that ecosystem's stability, productivity, and value to humans.

Another effect of habitat fragmentation

altering habitats make habitats and species more vulnerable to other disturbances.

Habitat fragmentation

development splitting ecosystems into pieces.

Climate change

is a major threat to biodiversity. Organisms that are adapted to their environment are faced with unfamiliar conditions and if they exceed an organism's tolerance level, it dies.

Hunting and demand of wildlife products

many animals are hunted for meat or commercially valuable parts because people believe they have medicinal properties.

Preserving habitats and ecosystems

the main thrust of global conservation efforts today is to protect not just individual species but entire ecosystems. The goal is to preserve the natural interactions of many species at once.

Genetic diversity

the sum total of all different forms of genetic information carried by a particular species, or by all organisms on Earth.

How do we preserve biodiversity?

to conserve biodiversity, we must protect individual species, preserve habitats and ecosystems, and make certain that human neighbors of protected areas benefit from participating in conservation efforts.

Biodiversity

total of all the genetically based variation in all organisms in the biosphere.